Fire Protection for the Shipment of Lithium Batteries in Aircraft Cargo Compartments

摘要

The Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are proposing a new regulation for the shipping of lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries and cells. Much of the regulation involves record keeping, package markings, cell size, and lithium content. Part of the regulation may restrict packaging, shipping mode, and cell type for shippers who elect to ship their devices on transport category aircraft. The tests described in this report were designed to increase knowledge of the flammability of lithium-ion and lithium metal cells generated in earlier test efforts. Based on the previous work of the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center Fire Safety Team, tests were conducted with larger number of cells and simulated self-ignition (thermal runaway) conditions. The effectiveness of Halon 1301 was evaluated from the perspective of open flame suppression as well as the ability to halt the propagation of thermal runaway within a shipment. Preliminary tests were also conducted to characterize the flammability hazard of lithium polymer batteries that are used in some laptop computers. The capability of existing shipping containers to contain lithium-ion and lithium metal cell fires was evaluated. A proposed performance standard for a shipping container or overpack for lithium-ion cells was developed.